Ivo Vrtarić is in hospital. Stroke. The Motovun grapevine is abuzz. The utmost his many friends can do under the circumstances is to keep their fingers crossed.

Addendum (February 29, 2012)

And crossed they have been for a couple of months. Ivo has gotten better in the meanwhile, too. During this period, we have kept in touch via his children. A few mobile-phone text-messages have been exchanged, as well. But he just called, and he sounded quite well. Although the stroke cannot but leave a few telltale signs, it was a joy to hear him talk. Which he did without any difficulty whatsoever. At any rate, he is out of the worst bit of his recuperation. He will be back home in a fortnight, he prophesies. Fingers crossed, indeed.